Blog

What if you don’t have a bank account?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on September 6, 2018 | Featured

I was on the bus the other day when I overheard the two people, a young man and woman, in front of me talking about a paycheck. “Yeah, I just got paid, but now I have to see if some … Read More … Read More

Tags: bank account, checking account, unbanked

The saddest money withdrawal I’ve ever seen

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on September 3, 2018 | Featured

I’m going on a big trip this month, and I’m pretty excited about it. One of my rituals around packing—aside from spending the week prior making a way-too-big pile of stuff in the corner of my room under the misunderstanding … Read More … Read More

Tags: banks, poverty

Don’t be a minimalist, be a sensibilist

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 30, 2018 | Featured

Minimalism is a big thing. From tiny houses to 100 things challenges, it seems that there is a building pushback against the McMansion-loving, stuff-buying, American-dream excess of our modern age, where what you buy determines who you are. From the … Read More … Read More

Tags: minimalism, They Might Be Giants

An alternative to CD lock-in: a “ladder”

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 27, 2018 | Featured

I don’t think CDs (certificates of deposit) are worth the bargain. You often (but not always) get a slightly higher interest rate than an equivalent savings account, but at the price of liquidity, in that you have to leave the … Read More … Read More

Tags: CDs, certificates of deposit

Is a CD worth it?

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 23, 2018 | Featured

I’ve talked about savings accounts and checking accounts and when you want to put money in one versus the other. I’ve also talked about how you can benefit from using an online savings account to get a better interest rate … Read More … Read More

Tags: CDs, certificates of deposit

It is possible to have too much float

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 20, 2018 | Featured

It’s important to have enough money in your account to not have to worry when your bills are paid, but too much float brings problems too. … Read More

Tags: ATM, float, Pearl Harbor

Surprises, or Why you need more float in your account

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 16, 2018 | Featured

In my last post I talked about very nearly overdrafting my account. It would have been more embarrassing than anything else had it happened—I haven’t overdrafted an account in over two decades—but it wouldn’t have caused any big problems. I … Read More … Read More

Tags: checking account, float

That time I almost overdrafted my account

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 13, 2018 | Featured

The idea that once you become intentional about your finances you’ll never make any mistakes is, frankly, ludicrous. When I was training for the Seattle to Portland bike ride a few years ago, amidst all the rushing around and buying … Read More … Read More

Tags: checking account, float, overdraft

The internet really doesn’t want you to be untraceable

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 9, 2018 | Featured

Right after I started using a VPN for all my internet traffic, so that I could remain anonymous in my browsing habits, I started having technical troubles. It started with Amazon. I don’t shop Amazon all that much (I think … Read More … Read More

Tags: NordVPN, privacy, VPN

How to find out if you (or anyone really) are owed money by the state

Posted by Mike Pumphrey on August 6, 2018 | Featured

I still fondly recall those late night TV infomercials about how you can get free money from the government. Now, as I’m learning, there may be something to all that. Because it turns out there are legitimate, state-run websites out … Read More … Read More

Tags: money, rebates, refunds

Blog

What if you don’t have a bank account?

The saddest money withdrawal I’ve ever seen

Don’t be a minimalist, be a sensibilist

An alternative to CD lock-in: a “ladder”

Is a CD worth it?

It is possible to have too much float

Surprises, or Why you need more float in your account

That time I almost overdrafted my account

The internet really doesn’t want you to be untraceable

How to find out if you (or anyone really) are owed money by the state

Empathic Finance - Mike Pumphrey, AFC®

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